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Population in Cameroon compared to Mali: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.18 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).

Cameroon vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Mali
2100 89,781,496 80,371,693
2099 89,255,966 80,051,982
2098 88,720,337 79,712,985
2097 88,168,066 79,363,373
2096 87,604,050 78,996,636
2095 87,032,145 78,611,169
2094 86,441,720 78,201,275
2093 85,842,389 77,780,277
2092 85,235,505 77,346,576
2091 84,610,360 76,892,849
2090 83,973,967 76,418,075
2089 83,322,813 75,924,551
2088 82,662,944 75,413,374
2087 81,989,354 74,882,872
2086 81,310,407 74,339,859
2085 80,614,775 73,778,163
2084 79,910,947 73,197,940
2083 79,192,092 72,596,727
2082 78,464,535 71,983,705
2081 77,723,079 71,348,537
2080 76,963,821 70,707,220
2079 76,202,603 70,044,626
2078 75,431,803 69,367,218
2077 74,649,057 68,675,750
2076 73,862,841 67,972,574
2075 73,062,202 67,256,565
2074 72,248,179 66,523,454
2073 71,432,221 65,776,035
2072 70,603,305 65,016,928
2071 69,771,981 64,239,726
2070 68,936,208 63,457,636
2069 68,095,292 62,664,074
2068 67,251,348 61,857,029
2067 66,399,507 61,042,577
2066 65,539,313 60,222,511
2065 64,675,474 59,400,594
2064 63,807,579 58,567,263
2063 62,939,156 57,727,308
2062 62,065,714 56,880,111
2061 61,188,220 56,026,848
2060 60,302,920 55,166,339
2059 59,413,352 54,304,533
2058 58,519,385 53,437,711
2057 57,622,572 52,565,517
2056 56,730,793 51,691,907
2055 55,837,458 50,813,138
2054 54,935,159 49,936,085
2053 54,032,780 49,053,898
2052 53,122,812 48,167,179
2051 52,215,921 47,280,403
2050 51,314,050 46,390,999
2049 50,406,453 45,505,968
2048 49,501,629 44,617,075
2047 48,593,064 43,730,396
2046 47,688,721 42,840,806
2045 46,789,773 41,951,176
2044 45,890,362 41,061,960
2043 44,999,297 40,172,937
2042 44,103,714 39,286,024
2041 43,204,033 38,406,403
2040 42,316,677 37,525,963
2039 41,430,803 36,652,557
2038 40,554,253 35,772,629
2037 39,682,947 34,902,845
2036 38,815,989 34,036,236
2035 37,963,436 33,178,665
2034 37,116,013 32,328,037
2033 36,279,025 31,486,276
2032 35,446,827 30,655,886
2031 34,626,572 29,833,522
2030 33,811,853 29,028,860
2029 33,009,874 28,235,559
2028 32,213,983 27,456,170
2027 31,428,884 26,690,187
2026 30,654,707 25,940,320
2025 29,885,995 25,201,616
2024 29,123,744 24,478,595
2023 28,372,687 23,769,127
2022 27,632,771 23,072,640
2021 26,915,758 22,388,630
2020 26,210,558 21,713,836
2019 25,506,095 21,068,405
2018 24,806,383 20,442,030
2017 24,128,601 19,813,011
2016 23,454,161 19,191,289
2015 22,763,414 18,593,022
2014 22,059,893 18,020,267
2013 21,402,376 17,459,615
2012 20,809,529 16,957,033
2011 20,232,304 16,469,049
2010 19,668,066 15,945,198
2009 19,113,974 15,435,539
2008 18,574,056 14,940,782
2007 18,049,896 14,457,775
2006 17,550,407 13,990,139
2005 17,074,594 13,538,647
2004 16,610,487 13,102,409
2003 16,160,340 12,684,955
2002 15,725,528 12,288,050
2001 15,309,490 11,912,158
2000 14,912,631 11,559,290
1999 14,525,140 11,227,415
1998 14,144,860 10,919,573
1997 13,775,214 10,646,495
1996 13,414,757 10,407,278
1995 13,058,516 10,185,365
1994 12,704,903 9,967,031
1993 12,353,131 9,754,786
1992 12,006,353 9,553,540
1991 11,667,180 9,362,888
1990 11,331,821 9,178,830
1989 11,002,745 8,999,938
1988 10,684,968 8,833,996
1987 10,370,749 8,681,164
1986 10,060,342 8,531,277
1985 9,761,730 8,374,663
1984 9,475,078 8,208,599
1983 9,215,397 8,034,400
1982 9,028,678 7,860,194
1981 8,816,377 7,692,766
1980 8,512,219 7,530,515
1979 8,239,641 7,375,266
1978 8,011,921 7,229,651
1977 7,796,501 7,090,979
1976 7,597,962 6,960,979
1975 7,397,120 6,837,261
1974 7,193,583 6,715,436
1973 6,996,660 6,597,106
1972 6,806,872 6,483,726
1971 6,624,408 6,377,944
1970 6,449,793 6,276,472
1969 6,283,462 6,177,704
1968 6,125,863 6,082,979
1967 5,977,318 5,990,906
1966 5,837,295 5,902,204
1965 5,704,686 5,815,487
1964 5,578,257 5,730,125
1963 5,456,623 5,646,605
1962 5,338,620 5,563,917
1961 5,239,273 5,482,283
1960 5,159,057 5,402,550

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Mali
2100 0.59% 0.4%
2099 0.6% 0.43%
2098 0.63% 0.44%
2097 0.64% 0.46%
2096 0.66% 0.49%
2095 0.68% 0.52%
2094 0.7% 0.54%
2093 0.71% 0.56%
2092 0.74% 0.59%
2091 0.76% 0.62%
2090 0.78% 0.65%
2089 0.8% 0.68%
2088 0.82% 0.71%
2087 0.84% 0.73%
2086 0.86% 0.76%
2085 0.88% 0.79%
2084 0.91% 0.83%
2083 0.93% 0.85%
2082 0.95% 0.89%
2081 0.99% 0.91%
2080 1% 0.95%
2079 1.02% 0.98%
2078 1.05% 1.01%
2077 1.06% 1.03%
2076 1.1% 1.06%
2075 1.13% 1.1%
2074 1.14% 1.14%
2073 1.17% 1.17%
2072 1.19% 1.21%
2071 1.21% 1.23%
2070 1.23% 1.27%
2069 1.25% 1.3%
2068 1.28% 1.33%
2067 1.31% 1.36%
2066 1.34% 1.38%
2065 1.36% 1.42%
2064 1.38% 1.46%
2063 1.41% 1.49%
2062 1.43% 1.52%
2061 1.47% 1.56%
2060 1.5% 1.59%
2059 1.53% 1.62%
2058 1.56% 1.66%
2057 1.57% 1.69%
2056 1.6% 1.73%
2055 1.64% 1.76%
2054 1.67% 1.8%
2053 1.71% 1.84%
2052 1.74% 1.88%
2051 1.76% 1.92%
2050 1.8% 1.94%
2049 1.83% 1.99%
2048 1.87% 2.03%
2047 1.9% 2.08%
2046 1.92% 2.12%
2045 1.96% 2.17%
2044 1.98% 2.21%
2043 2.03% 2.26%
2042 2.08% 2.29%
2041 2.1% 2.35%
2040 2.14% 2.38%
2039 2.16% 2.46%
2038 2.2% 2.49%
2037 2.23% 2.55%
2036 2.25% 2.58%
2035 2.28% 2.63%
2034 2.31% 2.67%
2033 2.35% 2.71%
2032 2.37% 2.76%
2031 2.41% 2.77%
2030 2.43% 2.81%
2029 2.47% 2.84%
2028 2.5% 2.87%
2027 2.53% 2.89%
2026 2.57% 2.93%
2025 2.62% 2.95%
2024 2.65% 2.98%
2023 2.68% 3.02%
2022 2.66% 3.06%
2021 2.69% 3.11%
2020 2.76% 3.06%
2019 2.82% 3.06%
2018 2.81% 3.17%
2017 2.88% 3.24%
2016 3.03% 3.22%
2015 3.19% 3.18%
2014 3.07% 3.21%
2013 2.85% 2.96%
2012 2.85% 2.96%
2011 2.87% 3.29%
2010 2.9% 3.3%
2009 2.91% 3.31%
2008 2.9% 3.34%
2007 2.85% 3.34%
2006 2.79% 3.33%
2005 2.79% 3.33%
2004 2.79% 3.29%
2003 2.77% 3.23%
2002 2.72% 3.16%
2001 2.66% 3.05%
2000 2.67% 2.96%
1999 2.69% 2.82%
1998 2.68% 2.56%
1997 2.69% 2.3%
1996 2.73% 2.18%
1995 2.78% 2.19%
1994 2.85% 2.18%
1993 2.89% 2.11%
1992 2.91% 2.04%
1991 2.96% 2.01%
1990 2.99% 1.99%
1989 2.97% 1.88%
1988 3.03% 1.76%
1987 3.09% 1.76%
1986 3.06% 1.87%
1985 3.03% 2.02%
1984 2.82% 2.17%
1983 2.07% 2.22%
1982 2.41% 2.18%
1981 3.57% 2.15%
1980 3.31% 2.1%
1979 2.84% 2.01%
1978 2.76% 1.96%
1977 2.61% 1.87%
1976 2.72% 1.81%
1975 2.83% 1.81%
1974 2.81% 1.79%
1973 2.79% 1.75%
1972 2.75% 1.66%
1971 2.71% 1.62%
1970 2.65% 1.6%
1969 2.57% 1.56%
1968 2.49% 1.54%
1967 2.4% 1.5%
1966 2.32% 1.49%
1965 2.27% 1.49%
1964 2.23% 1.48%
1963 2.21% 1.49%
1962 1.9% 1.49%
1961 1.55% 1.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Mali
Current population
30864115
26143152
Population rank 51/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.32%
One net population change
42 seconds
44.5 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
33.1 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
2.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +1,944
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +709,468
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +2.98%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 15/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
11 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -48,019
Net migration rank 146/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -48,019
2024 - -13,892 - -46,880
2023 754,486 -4,798 746,398 -39,953
2022 734,893 -4,798 726,465 -39,951
2021 713,806 -9,888 703,674 -22,210
2020 716,361 -9,888 683,053 -14,962
2019 714,681 -12,255 667,110 -44,373
2018 706,188 -9,184 670,723 -40,710
2017 696,496 -37,912 661,973 -33,942
2016 677,051 13,255 645,652 -30,251
2015 649,190 42,008 630,006 -48,872
2014 619,243 96,599 614,419 -50,068
2013 606,072 -6,900 597,887 -40,951
2012 594,029 -7,523 588,748 -140,507
2011 580,607 -12,669 570,899 -43,160
2010 569,921 -9,366 554,447 -34,483
2009 557,841 -10,203 533,730 -34,383
2008 542,919 -10,720 514,665 -24,509
2007 526,949 -10,807 495,800 -19,945
2006 511,366 -28,528 477,665 -18,247
2005 496,547 -27,775 460,964 -17,413
2004 478,880 -19,444 439,717 -10,796
2003 459,422 -18,568 417,766 -11,768
2002 439,544 -10,766 396,732 -8,914
2001 422,511 -19,203 376,472 -12,507
2000 411,633 -21,221 359,159 -17,395
1999 401,969 -17,398 343,705 -21,702
1998 388,432 -12,446 323,940 -30,255
1997 377,138 -13,842 308,429 -55,978
1996 370,355 -12,738 293,953 -67,974
1995 367,532 -12,661 285,598 -67,763
1994 364,390 -12,028 282,356 -63,533
1993 360,785 -9,601 274,480 -68,816
1992 356,072 -13,702 267,605 -70,789
1991 350,493 -14,520 261,656 -77,172
1990 342,901 -8,163 252,308 -68,668
1989 334,649 -11,244 249,929 -75,771
1988 328,168 -16,016 245,682 -87,952
1987 320,134 -3,829 238,871 -90,940
1986 308,188 -3,671 233,799 -81,970
1985 296,317 -3,604 224,734 -63,347
1984 284,110 -3,512 218,078 -47,331
1983 276,112 -37,346 211,795 -34,132
1982 274,652 -139,974 204,892 -34,140
1981 262,076 27,845 198,227 -34,130
1980 247,808 70,589 190,560 -30,156
1979 238,875 -12,108 182,449 -32,353
1978 229,958 -1,282 172,652 -31,520
1977 222,785 -20,622 165,071 -28,853
1976 214,916 -19,994 157,778 -33,999
1975 206,986 -237 150,222 -26,572
1974 200,693 -377 142,448 -22,449
1973 193,997 -466 135,801 -19,137
1972 186,521 -473 129,687 -19,594
1971 179,317 -439 123,591 -22,127
1970 170,713 -367 118,952 -17,479
1969 162,603 -286 114,361 -18,302
1968 153,080 -204 111,403 -18,015
1967 144,370 -148 107,650 -16,900
1966 135,927 -96 103,684 -17,032
1965 129,428 -39 100,451 -13,662
1964 123,469 0 97,166 -13,226
1963 119,784 0 95,055 -11,951
1962 116,232 0 93,101 -10,821
1961 82,471 0 91,115 -10,139
1960 77,948 0 88,802 -10,314

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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